Sky Masters полностью

The number-two task force of Admiral Yin Po L’un’s Spratly Island flotilla was again cruising within radar range of Phu Qui Island, the large rock and coral formation in the disputed neutral zone between the Philippine-occupied islands to the north and the Chinese-held islands to the south. Unlike the more powerful ten-ship task force that surrounded Admiral Yin’s flagship, this one had only four ships — two Hainan-class patrol boats, a Lienyun-class minesweeper, and a Huangfen-class fast attack missile craft, the Chagda, which acted as the command vessel for this faster, shallow-draft patrol group.

Commander Chow Ti U, skipper of the Chagda, felt uneasy with his latest series of orders. It had been over three months since the attack on the Philippine oil-drilling barge, and the tension in the region had been escalating on a weekly basis. Now it was so thick one could cut it with a knife — and much of the heightened tensions could be directly attributed to the way Admiral Yin had handled the entire affair.

Despite what was originally and officially reported, Yin had departed the area after attacking the oil barges; his contention that the seas were too rough to begin rescue operations did not sit well with anyone. When the weather cleared, it was found that Yin had steamed back to the Chinese side of the neutral zone, well away from Phu Qui Island — again, his contention that he was concerned about retaliatory attacks from Philippine warships did not explain why he did not offer to assist in rescue operations.

Chow would never say so to anyone, but Yin’s actions could be characterized as unprofessional, exhibiting a total disregard for the rules of naval warfare, international law, and common decency between sailors. Chow felt that the Admiral had every right to confront the illegally placed oildrilling rig, and he was well within his responsibilities when he returned fire — even such devastating return fire as he used. But to simply slink away from the area without offering any. help or without radioing for help was very suspicious.

Since then, while there’d been no skirmishes, there had been a few close calls. Everyone was on edge, looking, waiting, wondering… Chow and his fellow Chinese crewmen privately felt it was only a matter of time before something else happened, and after witnessing the way Admiral Yin had handled the first skirmish, everyone was skittish about how he would proceed in an escalated conflict.

“Range to Phu Qui Island, navigator,” Chow called out.

His crewmen were obviously keeping very close track themselves, for the answer was almost instantaneous: “Sir… we are presently twenty-five kilometers southwest of Phu Qui Island. We will be in radar range within minutes.”

“Very well,” Chow grunted. Twenty-five kilometers — they were right on the edge of the neutral zone — perhaps inside it by no more than a kilometer. Unlike Admiral Yin, Chow had no intention of tempting fate by openly cruising the neutral zone. Pearson Reef was indisputably the property of the People’s Republic of China, so he would stay close to it. His radar could survey enough of the neutral zone to check for any other intruders.

Still… he was uneasy. Perhaps because Admiral Yin chose not to continue operating his larger, more powerful task force along the border as before — but had instead chosen to operate farther south, well in undisputed Chinese waters. The first explanation was, of course, that Yin had been ordered to keep away from the neutral zone, but as weeks went by, the rumor was that Yin simply did not want to risk the wrath of the Philippine Navy and put his precious flagship Hong Lung in harm’s way. -Instead, he had ordered Chow’s smaller, less powerful, less capable task force to patrol the area. Admiral Yin’s task force was seventy-two kilometers to the southwest, fairly close to Nansha Dao Island itself, which meant Yin was in very real danger of running aground in the shallow waters. Commander Chow’s force was better suited for those interreef patrols — but if that was where the Admiral preferred to stay…

“Surface contact, sir,” an officer in the Combat section of the bridge crew blurted out. “Bearing, zero-five-zero degrees, range twenty kilometers. Speed zero.” Chow turned to the plotting board as another crewman penciled in the contact on the clear Plexiglas board.

Phu Qui Island.